Comics and media news website Comics Alliance has produced a number of lists of Best.. of 2013 items, including comic book covers and toys. Our favourite transforming robots take their place in two of them: Best Toys of 2013 and 2013 Holiday Gift Guide! Click on the links for the full features, and take a look below at what they have to say about Generations Metroplex and Masterpiece Soundwave.

When writing up our “Best Toys of 2013” list we were torn between giving the title to Hasbro/Takara’s humongous Metroplex or the equally awesome Masterpiece Soundwave. It was a tough call, so you’ll have to forgive us for relegating Soundwave’s current ultimate figure to the Gift Guide. Think of the inclusion of Soundwave and his compatible team of transforming cassette tape robots (Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble, Buzzsaw and Frenzy) here as a plug for the best Transformer you can buy someone this year… that’s shorter than 2 feet tall. Good luck finding one for its approximate $120 retail, however, as this SDCC 2013 debut/Toys “R” Us exclusive figure is now going for closer to $200 and higher online. One alternative is the less accessorized Takara version from Japan, or you can just bite the Energon cube and splurge for your favorite Transformer fan.

After seeing it up close at Toy Fair and going hands-on with Hasbro’s massive San Diego Comic-Con 2013 exclusive version of Metroplex, CA can assure any fans on the fence about picking up the $125 retail version that it is, indeed, as substantial as it looks. At roughly 24.5″ tall in robot mode, Metroplex appropriately towers over every other Transformer EVER. Sure, he’s not in perfect scale with Hasbro and Takara’s more pocket-sized robots in disguise, but considering a 1:1 Metroplex would probably take up a full city block, this toy is about as good as it gets. Metroplex has a sturdy build despite its proportions and transforming it from a robotic warrior to two styles of battle station/cityscape is a relative snap. If anything, applying its dozens of decals is the most strenuous part of playing with Metroplex, but the stickers are still a nice bonus even if you’re as bad as popping them on as a certain CA Senior Editor.

Seibertron.com user and podcaster jON3.0 returns to us with another of his Prime Reviews! Today, Optimus Prime reviews the zombie-ish exclusive Prime Terrorcon Cliffjumper that was exclusive to San Diego Comic Con 2012. This review in particular is in memory of his friend and Transformer reviewer, Michael "Rimfyre" Taylor.

jON3.0 wrote:

In loving memory of a dear friend of mine and fellow Transfan/reviewer Michael "Rimfyre" Taylor, a PRIME review of his favorite character and figure that never got to him because he passed away one year ago today - SDCC '12 Exclusive Terrorcon Cliffjumper.

Join Mike (Counterpunch), Ryan (Seibertron), Scotty (Scotty P), and Matt (Tigertrack) as they flex collecting muscles to try to acquire the latest and greatest Transformers toys. This episode is available directly and in our RSS Feed and should appear on iTunes within 24 to 48 hours of this news post.

In this episode, Ryan and Mike go in to collector nirvana describing what it's like owning the super-awesome collectible that so many now have their hands on ... Metroplex.

A little ol' convention called WONDERFEST happened, and there was some big yellow plasticy Scorponok thing shown on display next to G1 Fortress Maximus. The crew speculate, and wonder what does it actually mean? And then we talk dolls... like CM Corps new addition in Spike and Daniel Exosuits.

Then there's the hunting. Beast Hunters 'Rise of the Predacons' Exclusives, Target resets, Generations comic packs, and more seemed to magically appear all at the same time. Is Target the most consistent retailer for releasing similar toys at similar times in so many stores?

Not only are Beast Hunters toys making news, but the Beast Hunters cartoon showed its final episode, and we share a few thoughts on its finality, Bumblebee speaking, and what comes next for Transformers cartoons.

Believe it or not, the Twincast also had a few moments to talk about the SDCC TF/GI JOE Exclusive Set and how separate entities are having trouble playing nice when it comes to a certain white jet with black and red details, and super-cool fast pack jet engines.

And finally...

Do you like free stuff? If so you may want to tune in as the crew of the podcast announces a bit of a contest. Details are in the show, and will be expounded on in this podcast thread. We're looking forward to your creativity. The winner will receive a new Generations deluxe class Transformers toy. Only U.S. residents and non-Seibertron.com staff members are eligible to win.

Thanks for tuning in! If you get a chance, please leave us some feedback about this episode. We really like to hear from our listeners!

Note from Ryan: This episode was recorded on July 12th, almost a week before SDCC. The craziness and 16+ hour days of Comic-Con prevented this episode from being posted last week and earlier this week. Without further ado, here's Episode #71: "SDCC 2013 Preview" ...

"It's Summertime in northern Michigan..." and everywhere else, even though Kid Rock only cared about the latter, Ryan and Matt discuss vacations, trolls, and yoopers, and then the group gets SERIOUS! Join master of ceremonies Mike (Counterpunch), and the likes of Ryan (Seibertron), Matt (tigertracks 24), and guest-orator Scotty P (Scotty P)! Beat the summer heat and listen to these chaps talk Transformers as the Eve of Sand Diego Comic-Con is upon us.

You can download this episode directly, via our RSS Feed, and it should appear on iTunes within 24 to 48 hours of this news post.

This iteration of the Twincast talks about the Transformers exclusive toys that are to be available to purchase at SDCC and hopefully, on HASBRO TOY SHOP early next week. We focus mainly on the insanely shiny and gigantic Metroplex; but also talk about 'the pales in comparison, but still nice Shockwave's Lab'; and the "not even Action Masters" vinyl figures set. In case you missed it, Ryan also posted galleries here on Seibertron of all 3 exclusives, including quite a few comparison Metroplex pics between the SDCC Exclusive and the retail HASBRO release. The debate is on as to what version of versions YOU MUST OWN (or not, no pressure)!

Thanks again to Seibertron we have a better look at the slideshow used during the panel at SDCC. And courtesy of Hasbro, we get a better look at the product images used in the presentation: these include Construct-Bots, Generations, Masterpiece and the Thrilling 30 grouping, and can all be found here. Or you can click on any of the images below for the full galleries!

UPDATE: You can now watch the embedded video below to view the panel's slideshow gallery instead, all courtesy of Seibertron himself.

Yet another reveal from the Hasbro Transformers panel, and it's more Transformers: Prime goodness! Check out the embedded video below, courtesy of Seibertron, for a clip from the movie-length conclusion to Beast Hunters (though not part of season 3) - Predacons Rising.

YouTube reporter Atamaii has uploaded a video from the Tokyo Toy Fair that gives us a good look at Takara Tomy TG-23 Metroplex. Among other things confirms that the figure will come with two guns, rather than just the one like the Hasbro version, a chrome face and slightly different paint apps. The video also claims that this version is the same as the exclusive Comic Con one. Is this also the SDCC version?

This week on the Twincast podcast live from parking lot of the Circle K, we join a dynamic uno and his partner as they discuss recent Transformers related stuff. Air guitars ready? "Excellent!" Let's hope we don't run into any evil robot us's. (cue riff)

As always, the episode is available directly and in our RSS Feed and should appear on iTunes within 24 to 48 hours of this news post.

Listen to host Counterpunch S. Preston Esquire and his sidekick tigertracks24 Theodore Logan as they jam on a WILD STALLION something near-and-dear to ol' tt24's heart, Masterpiece Tigertrack(s), as well as the most recent developments about Transformers 4 vehicles and setting. What results is a bit of love for Lamborghini's and a geography lesson...

"Most excellent." (less excited segue guitar riff)

Also the awesome pair with the great hair shares thoughts about other toy news like the SDCC Exclusive GI JOE Transformers Crossover Set ("Whoa..."), the Beast Hunters exclusives ("Heinous..."), and Generations Trailcutter ("Station!").

Our trip in the phone booth concludes with some Botcon talk including a final wrap on the exclusive figures set and it's 'totally awesome' box and the guest lineups, which then transitions to some bragadocious bragging rights when the twosome becomes a threesome and ends the jam session as the wily Jon 'RUFUS' 3.0 pops in just in time to say, "Adieu!"